Maldonboy38

Chocco is as mad as a cut snake and I love him. He has a strange mix of qualities: He is a communicator. Lots of people have football smarts and experience, but very few can convey it to others in a way that helps them learn or develop. He is passionate about people and passionate about footy. He is a genuine teacher Did I mention that he is stark raving nuts? He no longer wants to be a head coach He can balance being direct and corrective, while also encouraging and positive. A rare mix Best MFC appointment since Paul Roos and THAT photo of him and Nev. Wow.

Absolute no from me. You play for a club, not a team. Enough of this "injuries ruin football". It's part of the game. Move on.

Sparrow for Melksham definitely. If either of Brown or Weid were fit, TMac would have to be in the spotlight, as much as I like what he brings to team balance. Our main struggle against Geelong will be our young forward line against their defenders. Gawn and Jackson might need to rotate through forward 50 AND the bench, to being more size and physical options.

I think we Dees supporters have become so used to turnovers, bad skills, losing games by giving up 5-6 goals in 1 quarter etc... that we now complain about small stuff too much. There are mistakes all over the ground, each week and in every game, from both teams and the umpiring - even in great games like Doggies v Eagles last week. I love that we are 3 - 0, but the most pleasing thing is we are playing great TEAM footy. There are very few occasions where we are burning our team mates, or individuals being too selfish for too long, or choosing the long bomb without thinking etc... Some of the selfless link-up footy by Jackson, Spargo, Langdon, Jones is great team footy and I love it. A big whole in our performance during Goodwin's reign has been defensive running, and by that I mean getting to the next contest in numbers when the opposition has the ball. Seeing Viney, Brayshaw, Petracca, Langdon, Jordon etc... working hard to get to half-back to help out means I don't have to watch with a knot in my stomach. There is a rider of course - the three teams we have played will probably all struggle to make finals, so my lid is still firmly fixed to the jar.

Each year I have my 'quote of the year". This is the winner for 2021 so far, by the length of the Flemington Straight. Love your style Rab.

1. Robbie. 2. Hardeman (so often the forgotten man of the MFC. He outmarked and outplayed the great full forwards of Hudson, Wade, McKenna etc... As a young kid, Melbourne were rarely on tv but the radio commentators used to love him) 3. Brett Lovett. Looked like a plodder but was an absolute gun off half back. Reliable, attacking, incredible team player. 4. Schwartz. Every skill, physically intimidating, great shot for goal, towering mark. 5. Farmer. Next in line: Lyon, Davey, or Gawn.

We have to do our very best to keep him. Not "give him what he wants", but something close to it. I agree that he has some parts of his game that need improving - like handballing to team mates who are too close and already under pressure, and trying to get around the tackle when he had a first option to give a releasing handball - but the rest of his game is simply a joy to watch. He plays at full pace, has amazing quick and accurate hands, his kicking has become a weapon, he runs all day, and racks up possessions bringing team mates into the game. He reminds me a bit of Stephen Tingay, although Tingay was more a kicking player. And there seems to be genuine camaraderie between him, Gawn, Trac and Brayshaw. Lots of reasons to fight hard to keep him.

I clearly remember all the ruckmen on that list. Dempsey was a freak, an absolute freak and thrashed every opponent he played against most weeks. His defensive marking was his trade mark, and his tap work was just so accurate. Madden was basically a giant goal-kicking, high marking midfielder who changed ruck play. He was the first I remember who jumped early into his opponent for serious hangtime, and then palmed it in a range of full 360 degrees, including behind his head while he was in the air. Moore was so athletic who, like Madden, had midfielder qualities. He could change the momentum of a game by doing ridiculous superstar things like Toby Greene or Dusty Martin. He was probably the most spectacular of this list. Cox the same; at his size he should have been awkward kicking on the run, but he was a beautiful kick. He served it up from hand and foot bringing Cousins, Judd etc... into the game. I am a bit protective of this list, and few make it on. Max earns his spot for being so consistent, by his impact in moment or periods of a game, but also for his tap work. Some people on this chat are critical of his tapping. That is actual praise because opposition are treating him like their own ruckman, understanding their own rucks have little to no chance to win much against him.

I have been holding myself back for a while now, but I think I am ready to elevate Gawn into a very elite group of ruckmen. Best I have seen in order: Gary Dempsey Simon Madden Peter Moore Dean Cox I am fairly happy to move Max Gawn into no.5 in this group. Watching him is pure pleasure. His tap work is as good as Dempsey, his field running as good as Cox, his kicking is now as relaible as Moore. I doubt his marking will get to the heights of Madden, but he is a very, very good mark. Absolute gun is our Max and I also need to eat humble pie about his captaincy; I wasn't a fan of his appointment but his leadership is first class.

Brayshaw is my favourite current Dees player. When he is on I love his hardness, and his run and carry. But he has been really poor in rounds 1 and 2. I will cut him some slack because he has had little preseason, but the pressure on positions makes his place in the 22 shaky. Melksham in for him is a real possibility but would rather see Brayshaw recover his form. Fritsch is killing me - don't know what to do about his goal kicking. No way do we stuff up good team balance and ream effort by bringing in Vandenberg or Hibberd just for the sake of it.

The brother-in-law of a friend played 50 games with the Dees, and I got to go in the rooms prior to a game versus Essendon while Carl was coach. We won by about 5 goals (I think) and sung "bye bye Bombers" to the cricket chant popular at the time "Come on Aussie come on, come on"! It is a long time ago now, but I remember him as a well spoken, excellent coach who the players adored. He surprised me with how calm, articulate and teacher-like he was. It felt like he left all the biffo and "bigger than life" stuff until he was out on the field. But he was VERY physically intimidating and everyone walked taller while he was on the ground.

Two things important for us to do well if we want to win: 1. Defensive spread from our midfielders. Freo waltzed around us in numbers through the middle of the ground and they achieved 50+ inside 50's. However, at one point we had Jordon, Sparrow and Bradshaw at some centre bounces which didn't help. Viney in is a massive bonus if he is fit. 2. If we hit our targets inside 50, we win. On Saturday, our delivery into 50 and set shot goal kicking was embarrassing.

Yes, but they did it at the mark.

Love this rule. I refuse to call it a new rule, because it is basically a return to what everyone did for the first 130 years until coaches pulled in ideas from other sports. It is simple - you "man the mark". And look at the run and flow of the game, look at the shots on goal!

As a coach, I highly rate Buckley. His teams have often played good footy. As a people-person or people-manager, I can't actually remember anyone as bad as him unless you mention Mark Neeld or Scott Watters. He is woeful. He has to stop thinking of them as footballer entities, and interact with them as people. Add in a CEO who appears has risen to the level of his incompetence, and the Pies are in serious trouble as a club. Can't wait to hear Eddie's spin in this - could be the best comedy act of 2021.

Not a fan of the trade period - bores me to tears. So much bull-dust, PR and spin from clubs, players, managers etc...; is far too protracted, and uses players like bras at a Myers bargain basement red light special sale. Glad to tap in now to see the results without having to endure all the faffing. Mahoney - I reckon this bloke excels during trade week. Silently, calmly goes about getting the job done without big statements or headline grabbing gaffs. We have pick 18 and 19! Glad TMac is staying. He will surprise a few this year and I reckon he remains best 22. A great swingman perhaps starting on the bench. Brown, Weideman and Jackson rotating through forward 50, with Fritsch causing headaches, and Picket/Spargo crumbing. This is going to be very difficult for opposition defences to cover. I hope OMac gets a rookie gig. He has flaws but he is good enough to remain on our list. Every year, a player emerges who surprises us. I hope it is Baker on the wing. He didn't excel in 2020, but showed glimpses of pace and grunt. Watch this space.

Hats off to the Tigers, who I hate with a passion. Their work as a club and a team over the past 5 seasons is amazing. They won tonight with betteer team play, winning significant moments, and having Dusty wandering around outclassing everyone. Ablett jr: I put him up there with Matthews, Ablett snr, and Carey as the best players I have seen. And among this group, he is definitely the most complete. If you rated all the skills of th game, her would be 8.5+ for each of them. The others in my list rarely tackled, shepherded or did the defensive stuff. Ablett jnr did. Absolute star and footy is less for him leaving. Dusty is a freak. His kicking skills are up there with Jarman and Trav Johnstone. His balance and ability to stay on his feet whether running, marking, being tackled are magical. just so strong over the footy. On Dusty, I know a few people at Castlemaine FC (I grew up nearby) and I was talking to someone on the committee when Dusty was there. At 16yo, as training was finished, Dusty would be out there alone for another 1/2 half hour taking shots from all along the 50m arc, with both feet on the run and from set shot. They had to ask him to finish up to turn the lights out. At 17 you, he could beat many senior footballers one-on-one. Absolute gun - love watching him. But bl***y hell, if we don't win flag soon I'm going to explode. So tired of seeing every other half-arsed club and player winning flags.

He is a star. Yes, he is so good that most of can't stand him, but he is brilliant.

I wouldn't go after him because he is only a marginal increase in the overall quality of our list. I'm much more keen to see Baker continue to develop. I know he isn't a left footer, but he is very quick and showed a heap of improvement.

I am a huge Nev fan. The very thought of seeing him in a Pies jumper, on QB, playing AGAINST us, makes me want to puke. No way, just no, no, no. He is probably unable to sustain AFL level footy for 3/4 of game, let alone 2 years, and the Pies would know that. He will struggle to get a single game with us in 2021. I'm not sure where this whisper/rumour started from but it sounds like total BS to me. We need to keep him at the club in some kind of development or leadership role - behind the scenes. Stuff the other clubs.

Yep. 1994 - the best team I've seen too. If only.... Makes me cry to look at the talent and know we got beaten by the WA State of Origin team. And we forget too easily the brilliance and leadership of Garry Lyon.

I understand the warm fuzzies that come from getting Dees ex-players involved in and around the club, especially relating diretly to football, but it doesn't necessarily mean much in the Board Room. We need CAPABLE Board-functioning people, not necessarily gun footballers. I am a HUGE fan of Brad Green, but have no idea how he will function in the administrative and business setting of an AFL club board. I remember him as a particularly inarticulate skipper and have no idea if he has any management or business experience, but he is going to need some to survive in the board room. Unlike some Demonlanders, I rate Glen Bartlett, and believe the resurrection of our club under Roos and Jackson as being in equal part due to the presence of Bartlett as president. So I will trust his judgement on this, but will also watch with a keen eye to see if Brad's appointment as board member responsible for the actual football makes any noticeable difference to the actual football itself.

There have been some carp games this year, but Lions v Tiges is a cracker. Love seeing the Tiges get rattled. Lions have absorbed the pressure, and their guns are emerging the further the games goes. Rayner, Cameron, Neale, Hipwood, McLuggage. Makes me so b****y annoyed that we are not playing finals.

I don't see any wisdom in trading him. I think his place in our best 25 is fairly solid, and the coaching group love his consistency. He isn't a player other clubs are dead hungry for (like Cameron, Saad etc...), but he isn't bad enough to delist and bring in a young bloke 2 years away from playing. We so often forget you actually need some ordinary, unnoticed foot soldiers to make up a really strong squad, and this bloke is one.

A very, very, very good footballer whose best is quickly falling behind him. His last half of this season has been poor so absolutely NO for me.